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IRDAI forms panel to mull surety bonds
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he Expert Series on COVID-19 - Download PDF IRDAI forms panel to mull surety bonds Share On 0 Business Agri-Business Industry Economy Markets Budget 2020 Stock Quotes Business Industry Industry <span>IRDAI forms panel to mull surety bonds Special Correspondent HYDERABAD, July 01, 2020 22:35 IST Updated: July 01, 2020 23:31 IST Special Correspondent HYDERABAD, July 01, 2020 22:35 IST Updated: July 01, 2020 23:31 IST Share




Ola enables in-app ‘tipping’ globally
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The Expert Series on COVID-19 - Download PDF Ola enables in-app ‘tipping’ globally Share On 0 Business Agri-Business Industry Economy Markets Budget 2020 Stock Quotes Business Industry Industry <span>Ola enables in-app ‘tipping’ globally Special Correspondent Bengaluru, July 01, 2020 00:30 IST Updated: July 01, 2020 00:30 IST Special Correspondent Bengaluru, July 01, 2020 00:30 IST Updated: July 01, 2020 00:30 IST Throu




CAPA - Centre for Aviation, part of the Aviation Week Network, is one of the world’s most trusted sources of market intelligence for the aviation and travel industry. Our unrivalled reputation for independence and integrity means you get the whole story, with powerful data and in-depth insights on the news, issues and trends that are shaping our industry.
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ponsorship Training Courses About Leadership Team Advertising With CAPA CAPA Awards CAPA Careers Press Releases Contact Us Log In Join CAPA Become a CAPA Member About CAPA - Centre for Aviation <span>CAPA - Centre for Aviation, part of the Aviation Week Network, is one of the world’s most trusted sources of market intelligence for the aviation and travel industry. Our unrivalled reputation for independence and integrity means you get the whole story, with powerful data and in-depth insights on the news, issues and trends that are shaping our industry. Since its establishment in 1990, CAPA has developed a formidable global network of aviation researchers and analysts located across Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. We provide




The government plans to impose 20% basic customs duty duty on imported solar panels to boost the domestic industry, the sources said. Solar developers have been largely dependent on Chinese equipment.
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the sources said. “Once the company is formed, the respective company boards will decide the final contours of the project. At present, solar capex for each MW is around ₹4 crore,” they added. <span>The government plans to impose 20% basic customs duty duty on imported solar panels to boost the domestic industry, the sources said. Solar developers have been largely dependent on Chinese equipment. Separate JV The thermal power project will be taken up by a separate JV after due diligence, they said. CIL has already installed solar projects of 4.83-MW capacity and these plants are




Coal India Ltd. (CIL) and NLC India will jointly develop solar power assets of 3,000 MW with a likely investment of about ₹12,000 crore, sources said on Saturday.

The two state-run companies had on Friday said they would form a JV to develop 5,000 MW of solar and thermal power assets across the country.

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0 PRINT A A A Sunny days: At present, the capital expenditure for each MW of solar power is about ₹4 crore. | Photo Credit: T_Singaravelou Venture aims to set up 3,000 MW of solar power assets <span>Coal India Ltd. (CIL) and NLC India will jointly develop solar power assets of 3,000 MW with a likely investment of about ₹12,000 crore, sources said on Saturday. The two state-run companies had on Friday said they would form a JV to develop 5,000 MW of solar and thermal power assets across the country. “A solar JV is already in process of formation with an initial capital of ₹10 lakh,” the sources said. “Once the company is formed, the respective company boards will decide the final c




Adani Transmission to acquire Alipurduar Transmission from Kalpataru
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Download PDF Adani Transmission to acquire Alipurduar Transmission from Kalpataru Share On 0 Business Agri-Business Industry Economy Markets Budget 2020 Stock Quotes Business Industry Industry <span>Adani Transmission to acquire Alipurduar Transmission from Kalpataru Special Correspondent MUMBAI, July 06, 2020 11:48 IST Updated: July 06, 2020 15:05 IST Special Correspondent MUMBAI, July 06, 2020 11:48 IST Updated: July 06, 2020 15:05 IST The enterpr




Indonesia imposed a 10% value-added tax on sales by technology firms including Amazon, Netflix, Spotify and Google on Tuesday, as spending patterns shift with increased remote working as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, which has hit state finances.
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n Google, Netflix Reuters JAKARTA, July 07, 2020 22:27 IST Updated: July 07, 2020 23:41 IST Reuters JAKARTA, July 07, 2020 22:27 IST Updated: July 07, 2020 23:41 IST Share Article 0 PRINT A A A <span>Indonesia imposed a 10% value-added tax on sales by technology firms including Amazon, Netflix, Spotify and Google on Tuesday, as spending patterns shift with increased remote working as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, which has hit state finances. The tax office said in a statement that it had already assigned tax identification numbers to Amazon Web Services, Netflix, Spotify and Alphabet’s Google for its Google Asia Pacific, Go




Amidst the clamour to ban China made goods, the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs has sent out a reminder to all e-commerce portals to ensure that the “country of origin” of the products being sold by them should be mentioned as part of mandatory declarations.

Government bans 59 apps including China-based TikTok, WeChat

“At a time when we are pushing for ‘Made in India’ products, it is equally necessary for our consumers to know exactly where the products that they are buying are coming from,” Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said at an online press conference on Thursday.

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Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto The Ministry’s reminder to e-commerce portals is part of a concerted effort by the government to have ‘country of origin’ declarations on these websites. <span>Amidst the clamour to ban China made goods, the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs has sent out a reminder to all e-commerce portals to ensure that the “country of origin” of the products being sold by them should be mentioned as part of mandatory declarations. Government bans 59 apps including China-based TikTok, WeChat “At a time when we are pushing for ‘Made in India’ products, it is equally necessary for our consumers to know exactly where the products that they are buying are coming from,” Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said at an online press conference on Thursday. Also read: Explainer | What is the latest buzz around e-commerce? The Ministry’s reminder to e-commerce portals is part of a concerted effort by the government to have ‘country of origi




The Ministry in its reminder invoked the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011. These rules make it mandatory for all manufacturers to declare the package name and address of the manufacturer, common and generic name of commodity, net quantity, month and year of manufacturing, MRP and consumer care details. In addition to these, in 2017, new provisions were added for e-commerce websites such as Amazon, Flipkart and so on, making it compulsory for them to display these information along with “declaration of country of origin or manufacture or assembly” and a clear mention of expiry date.
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t for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) on Wednesday held a second meeting on the matter after the initial consultation two weeks ago, attended by close to 30 e-commerce players. <span>The Ministry in its reminder invoked the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011. These rules make it mandatory for all manufacturers to declare the package name and address of the manufacturer, common and generic name of commodity, net quantity, month and year of manufacturing, MRP and consumer care details. In addition to these, in 2017, new provisions were added for e-commerce websites such as Amazon, Flipkart and so on, making it compulsory for them to display these information along with “declaration of country of origin or manufacture or assembly” and a clear mention of expiry date. Also read: Centre tighten norms for e-commerce companies for sale of products There are punitive provisions in the law. For the first offence, a penalty up to ₹25000 can be charged, for




The Ministry in its reminder invoked the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011. These rules make it mandatory for all manufacturers to declare the package name and address of the manufacturer, common and generic name of commodity, net quantity, month and year of manufacturing, MRP and consumer care details. In addition to these, in 2017, new provisions were added for e-commerce websites such as Amazon, Flipkart and so on, making it compulsory for them to display these information along with “declaration of country of origin or manufacture or assembly” and a clear mention of expiry date.

Also read: Centre tighten norms for e-commerce companies for sale of products

There are punitive provisions in the law. For the first offence, a penalty up to ₹25000 can be charged, for the second offence, the fine may extend to ₹50,000. Any subsequent offences can attract a jail term of one year.

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t for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) on Wednesday held a second meeting on the matter after the initial consultation two weeks ago, attended by close to 30 e-commerce players. <span>The Ministry in its reminder invoked the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011. These rules make it mandatory for all manufacturers to declare the package name and address of the manufacturer, common and generic name of commodity, net quantity, month and year of manufacturing, MRP and consumer care details. In addition to these, in 2017, new provisions were added for e-commerce websites such as Amazon, Flipkart and so on, making it compulsory for them to display these information along with “declaration of country of origin or manufacture or assembly” and a clear mention of expiry date. Also read: Centre tighten norms for e-commerce companies for sale of products There are punitive provisions in the law. For the first offence, a penalty up to ₹25000 can be charged, for the second offence, the fine may extend to ₹50,000. Any subsequent offences can attract a jail term of one year. Though the law has been in place for the last three years, the Ministry has no details on how many times it has been invoked to penalise any of these portals. Secretary, Consumer Affair




Bharat Forge Ltd. (BFL), in collaboration with AI start up Blackstraw, has introduced Health Risk Monitoring System (HRMS), an AI based solution that enables companies and institutions to comply with Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines for safe reopening.

HRMS, an intelligent video analytics solution, has been developed to empower workplaces with worker safety, and is aligned with the future dependability of enterprises on technology and AI to monitor compliance of MHA policies by employees.

The solution includes thermal screening through cameras and RFID reader which alerts administrators when social distancing norms are not met or if an employee is not wearing a face mask

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been developed to empower workplaces with worker safety once they reopen. Share Article 0 PRINT A A A The solution has been developed to empower workplaces with worker safety once they reopen. <span>Bharat Forge Ltd. (BFL), in collaboration with AI start up Blackstraw, has introduced Health Risk Monitoring System (HRMS), an AI based solution that enables companies and institutions to comply with Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines for safe reopening. HRMS, an intelligent video analytics solution, has been developed to empower workplaces with worker safety, and is aligned with the future dependability of enterprises on technology and AI to monitor compliance of MHA policies by employees. The solution includes thermal screening through cameras and RFID reader which alerts administrators when social distancing norms are not met or if an employee is not wearing a face mask HRMS is ideal for deploying in high-footfall areas like educational campuses, hospitals, gated communities, retail stores, railway stations, airports and transit points to monitor indiv




This is the thirteenth consecutive rate cut by the lender since July last year.

The country’s largest lender State Bank of India has also reduced its MCLR by 5-10 basis points (bps) for shorter tenors, effective Friday.

Another state-run Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has cut its MCLR by up to 25 bps across tenors.

Earlier this week, Canara Bank and Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) also reduced their MCLRs by 10 bps and 20 bps, respectively across all tenors.

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icable from July 11. The revised one-year MCLR stands at 7.40% against 7.60% earlier, the bank said in a release. Three-month and six-month MCLRs have been cut to 7.10% and 7.25%, respectively. <span>This is the thirteenth consecutive rate cut by the lender since July last year. The country’s largest lender State Bank of India has also reduced its MCLR by 5-10 basis points (bps) for shorter tenors, effective Friday. Another state-run Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has cut its MCLR by up to 25 bps across tenors. Earlier this week, Canara Bank and Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) also reduced their MCLRs by 10 bps and 20 bps, respectively across all tenors. A letter from the Editor Dear reader, We have been keeping you up-to-date with information on the developments in India and the world that have a bearing on our health and wellbeing, ou




“Moody’s expects the GDP of most ASEAN economies and India will contract in 2020 and gradually recover in 2021.

“The relaxation of lockdowns and resumption of economic activity will be the key factors supporting the recovery,” the report said.

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d Vietnam have restricted bank dividends, a credit positive for banks, while the largest banks will continue to benefit from deposit inflows as they are seen as safe-heavens in times of stress. <span>“Moody’s expects the GDP of most ASEAN economies and India will contract in 2020 and gradually recover in 2021. “The relaxation of lockdowns and resumption of economic activity will be the key factors supporting the recovery,” the report said. A letter from the Editor Dear reader, We have been keeping you up-to-date with information on the developments in India and the world that have a bearing on our health and wellbeing, ou




FMCG sales in June at pre COVID-19 levels: Nielsen
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ries on COVID-19 - Download PDF FMCG sales in June at pre COVID-19 levels: Nielsen Share On 0 Business Agri-Business Industry Economy Markets Budget 2020 Stock Quotes Business Industry Industry <span>FMCG sales in June at pre COVID-19 levels: Nielsen PTI new delhi, July 17, 2020 22:54 IST Updated: July 17, 2020 22:55 IST PTI new delhi, July 17, 2020 22:54 IST Updated: July 17, 2020 22:55 IST Rural, traditional channels aid recovery




RIL, he said, was transforming its energy business to make it net carbon-zero by 2035. “We have a 15-year vision to build Reliance as one of the world’s leading new energy and new materials company,” Mr. Ambani added.

He said the new energy business would make clean and green energy abundantly available at an affordable price to every Indian, every enterprise and every utility.

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approach NCLT with our proposal to spin off our O2C business into a separate subsidiary to facilitate this partnership opportunity. We expect to complete this process by early 2021,” he added. <span>RIL, he said, was transforming its energy business to make it net carbon-zero by 2035. “We have a 15-year vision to build Reliance as one of the world’s leading new energy and new materials company,” Mr. Ambani added. He said the new energy business would make clean and green energy abundantly available at an affordable price to every Indian, every enterprise and every utility. A letter from the Editor Dear reader, We have been keeping you up-to-date with information on the developments in India and the world that have a bearing on our health and wellbeing, ou




Sanitisers are disinfectants like soap, will attract 18% GST: Finance Ministry
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PDF Sanitisers are disinfectants like soap, will attract 18% GST: Finance Ministry Share On 3 Business Agri-Business Industry Economy Markets Budget 2020 Stock Quotes Business Industry Industry <span>Sanitisers are disinfectants like soap, will attract 18% GST: Finance Ministry PTI New Delhi, July 15, 2020 18:01 IST Updated: July 15, 2020 23:24 IST PTI New Delhi, July 15, 2020 18:01 IST Updated: July 15, 2020 23:24 IST Finance Ministry said various chemicals,




The Goa bench of Authority for Advance Ruling (AAR) had recently ruled that alcohol-based hand sanitisers will attract 18% duty under GST.

Although the Ministry of Consumer Affairs has classified hand sanitisers as an essential commodity, the GST law has a separate list of exempted goods.

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e nation’s policy on ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ Consumers would also eventually not benefit from the lower GST rate if domestic manufacturing suffers on account of inverted duty structure,” it added. <span>The Goa bench of Authority for Advance Ruling (AAR) had recently ruled that alcohol-based hand sanitisers will attract 18% duty under GST. Although the Ministry of Consumer Affairs has classified hand sanitisers as an essential commodity, the GST law has a separate list of exempted goods. A letter from the Editor Dear reader, We have been keeping you up-to-date with information on the developments in India and the world that have a bearing on our health and wellbeing, ou




Remdesivir is the only drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) treatment of adult and paediatric patients hospitalised with suspected or laboratory confirmed COVID-19 infection.
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any as 166 hospitals in Maharashtra and 53 in the national capital. When it comes to Telangana, Hetero supplied 14,502 vials, the information available at 11 a.m. on the site on Wednesday said. <span>Remdesivir is the only drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) treatment of adult and paediatric patients hospitalised with suspected or laboratory confirmed COVID-19 infection. Meanwhile, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd, which also has a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Gilead Sciences Inc to register, manufacture and sell the investigational drug, Remdesiv




Covifor is the first generic brand of Remdesivir, which is meant for treatment of COVID-19 patients that are adults and children, hospitalised with severe symptoms of the disease.
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red intravenously in a hospital. Hetero Healthcare Ltd is supplying 60,000 vials of Covifor, generic version of Remdesivir injection in the country from July 13 to 20, the company website said. <span>Covifor is the first generic brand of Remdesivir, which is meant for treatment of COVID-19 patients that are adults and children, hospitalised with severe symptoms of the disease. The drug is available in 100 mg vial (Injectable). It needs to be administered intravenously in a hospital, critical care setting, under the supervision of a registered medical practiti




“The annual rate of inflation, based on monthly Wholesale Price Index (WPI), stood at (-1.81%) (provisional) for June compared to 2.02% during the corresponding month of the previous year,” the Industry Ministry said.
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1% in June, due to a sharp decline in fuel and power items even as food articles remained expensive. Inflation in May and April was (-) 3.21% and (-) 1.57%, respectively. In March it was 0.42%. <span>“The annual rate of inflation, based on monthly Wholesale Price Index (WPI), stood at (-1.81%) (provisional) for June compared to 2.02% during the corresponding month of the previous year,” the Industry Ministry said. However, prices of food articles hardened with inflation at 2.04%, as against 1.13% in May. While inflation in vegetables and onion stood at (-) 9.21% and (-) 15.27%, respectively; pota




India (Hindi: Bhārat), officially the Republic of India (Hindi: Bhārat Gaṇarājya),[23] is a country in South Asia. It is the second-most populous country, the seventh-largest country by land area, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the southwest, and the Bay of Bengal on the southeast, it shares land borders with Pakistan to the west;[f] China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north; and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. In the Indian Ocean, India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka and the Maldives; its Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border with Thailand and Indonesia.
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India - Wikipedia
(₹) (INR) Time zone UTC+05:30 (IST) DST is not observed Date format dd-mm-yyyy[e] Mains electricity 230 V–50 Hz Driving side left[22] Calling code +91 ISO 3166 code IN Internet TLD .in (others) <span>India (Hindi: Bhārat), officially the Republic of India (Hindi: Bhārat Gaṇarājya),[23] is a country in South Asia. It is the second-most populous country, the seventh-largest country by land area, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the southwest, and the Bay of Bengal on the southeast, it shares land borders with Pakistan to the west;[f] China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north; and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. In the Indian Ocean, India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka and the Maldives; its Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border with Thailand and Indonesia. Modern humans arrived on the Indian subcontinent from Africa no later than 55,000 years ago.[24] Their long occupation, initially in varying forms of isolation as hunter-gatherers, has




The Election Commission of India (EC), on February 21, clarified that NRI voters cannot cast votes online, and that an NRI who holds an Indian passport can vote in his/her hometown after registering as an overseas voter.
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ven nature of mainstream politics While political commentators have been busy analysing voter preferences in the general election 2019, one segment, namely migrants, continues to be overlooked. <span>The Election Commission of India (EC), on February 21, clarified that NRI voters cannot cast votes online, and that an NRI who holds an Indian passport can vote in his/her hometown after registering as an overseas voter. But the roughly 60 million people moving across the country as migrant workers find it difficult to cast their votes because their voting rights are mostly at the place from where they




The U.S. has threatened to eject Turkey from the F-35 aircraft programme and impose more sanctions.
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hus prompted a multi-pronged response from Washington to wean away NATO’s eastern ally, which is critical in the counter-terrorism efforts in Syria and to stem the flow of refugees into Europe. <span>The U.S. has threatened to eject Turkey from the F-35 aircraft programme and impose more sanctions. Last year, the State Department approved the supply of the Patriot air defence system to discourage Turkey from the S-400 acquisition. The Patriots are separate from similar NATO instal




It matters not that the respondent is the head of the judiciary. He or she must be held to the same standard that is used in all other such cases. The independence of the judiciary and constitutional protections given to judges do not transform into an immunity shield. If the accusation was not of sexual harassment, but of any other grave charge like violence, would a confidential, in-house inquiry have been resorted to? Such an inquiry, if it had proceeded ex parte after the complainant’s withdrawal, would not have been deemed sufficiently fair.
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iae to stand for the complainant’s interest. The independence of the judiciary rests on public trust, and public trust is not maintained by one-sided inquiries. Justice needs to be seen as done <span>It matters not that the respondent is the head of the judiciary. He or she must be held to the same standard that is used in all other such cases. The independence of the judiciary and constitutional protections given to judges do not transform into an immunity shield. If the accusation was not of sexual harassment, but of any other grave charge like violence, would a confidential, in-house inquiry have been resorted to? Such an inquiry, if it had proceeded ex parte after the complainant’s withdrawal, would not have been deemed sufficiently fair. Justice needs not only to be done, but needs to be seen as manifestly done. The inquiry committee was headed by a person who in all probability will be the next CJI. Two of his immediat




The immediate impact of the listing would subject Azhar to an assets freeze, travel ban, and an arms embargo. Assets freeze means that all states are required to freeze without delay the funds and other financial assets or economic resources of designated individuals and entities. By virtue of the arms embargo, all nations are required to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale and transfer from their territories or by their nationals outside their territories of arms and related material of all types to designated individuals and entities.
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in any of the attacks against India, including the recent one in Pulwama, which was mentioned in the original proposal. Also Read A global label: on designating Masood Azhar as global terrorist <span>The immediate impact of the listing would subject Azhar to an assets freeze, travel ban, and an arms embargo. Assets freeze means that all states are required to freeze without delay the funds and other financial assets or economic resources of designated individuals and entities. By virtue of the arms embargo, all nations are required to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale and transfer from their territories or by their nationals outside their territories of arms and related material of all types to designated individuals and entities. This resolution is expected to have a long-term impact and is likely to have a preventive and deterrent effect on terrorist activities globally, and particularly in South Asia. While th




Article 329 of the Constitution has barred courts from interfering in electoral matters after the election process has been set in motion. In a long chain of judgments, the Supreme Court has reiterated that provision and restrained all courts from intervening.
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s consent.” It took repeated raps on its knuckles by the Supreme Court for the EC to crack the whip. It is a pity that we needed the Supreme Court to remind the EC of powers that it always had. <span>Article 329 of the Constitution has barred courts from interfering in electoral matters after the election process has been set in motion. In a long chain of judgments, the Supreme Court has reiterated that provision and restrained all courts from intervening. It is therefore significant that in the last couple of months, the apex court itself had to jump in for course correction. This is more serious than is realised at present. Also Read Po




Apart from the manner of appointment, the provision for the removal of Election Commissioners also needs correction. At present, only the CEC is protected from being removed (except through impeachment). One has to remember that the Constitution enabled protection to the CEC as it was a one-man Commission initially. This must now be extended to other Commissioners, who were added in 1993, as they collectively represent the EC.
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h vital importance, even the Supreme Court, which I have always described as the guardian angel of democracy, has to act urgently. If democracy is derailed, its future too would be in jeopardy. <span>Apart from the manner of appointment, the provision for the removal of Election Commissioners also needs correction. At present, only the CEC is protected from being removed (except through impeachment). One has to remember that the Constitution enabled protection to the CEC as it was a one-man Commission initially. This must now be extended to other Commissioners, who were added in 1993, as they collectively represent the EC. In the rich history of democratic India, all institutions of the state have come under pressure at one point or another. But the strength and credibility of an institution is tested whe




The work of polling agents includes ensuring that EVMs and VVPATs are in order, detecting and preventing impersonation of voters, and helping to secure and seal the EVMs, VVPATs and election records after polling is over. Those holding government positions and those who have been given security cover at the state’s expense, including Ministers, are not allowed to be polling agents.
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e day of voting in her constituency. Therefore, the law allows her or her election agent to appoint a polling agent to act as her representative at every polling station to watch her interests. <span>The work of polling agents includes ensuring that EVMs and VVPATs are in order, detecting and preventing impersonation of voters, and helping to secure and seal the EVMs, VVPATs and election records after polling is over. Those holding government positions and those who have been given security cover at the state’s expense, including Ministers, are not allowed to be polling agents. A letter from the Editor Dear reader, We have been keeping you up-to-date with information on the developments in India and the world that have a bearing on our health and wellbeing, ou




as shown in a recent study which named India as the second most unequal society in the world. According to Credit Suisse Research Institute’s Global Wealth Report, 1% of the Indian population owns 51.5% of the wealth in the country, and the top 10% own about three-fourths of the wealth. On the other hand, the bottom 60%, the majority of the population, own 4.7% of the total wealth.
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ny capitalism was soon making fast inroads into the policymaking coteries of India, and this new-found confidence of the private sector bore fruits. But for whom? Definitely not for the masses, <span>as shown in a recent study which named India as the second most unequal society in the world. According to Credit Suisse Research Institute’s Global Wealth Report, 1% of the Indian population owns 51.5% of the wealth in the country, and the top 10% own about three-fourths of the wealth. On the other hand, the bottom 60%, the majority of the population, own 4.7% of the total wealth. Public education and health are the worst hit by capitalism. Education spending by the Centre has been showing a downward trend — from 6.15% in the 2014-15 Budget to 3.71% in the 2017-1




Sri Lankans are yet to fully comprehend the dreadful Easter blasts that shook the country less than a fortnight ago, killing over 250 people across churches and hotels in and around the capital Colombo, and in this eastern city some 300 km away.
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olombo and Negombo, is cordoned off. A huge banner with mugshots and names of the victims hangs at the entrance. Many of them are studio pictures of well-dressed children smiling at the camera. <span>Sri Lankans are yet to fully comprehend the dreadful Easter blasts that shook the country less than a fortnight ago, killing over 250 people across churches and hotels in and around the capital Colombo, and in this eastern city some 300 km away. They are grappling with possible reasons and necessary responses with urgency, evident in the many statements and solidarity messages emerging from different religious and civil society




the Second Belt and Road Forum (BRF), reviewing progress of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), concluded in Beijing on April 27, China had reason to be satisfied. The summit segment was attended by 37 heads of state or government. The list included strategic partner Russia and almost all from Central and Southeast Asia, two important areas of BRI operation.
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’s attitude has to be set in the larger picture of the relationship with China Share Article 2 PRINT A A A India’s attitude has to be set in the larger picture of the relationship with China As <span>the Second Belt and Road Forum (BRF), reviewing progress of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), concluded in Beijing on April 27, China had reason to be satisfied. The summit segment was attended by 37 heads of state or government. The list included strategic partner Russia and almost all from Central and Southeast Asia, two important areas of BRI operation. If the attendance from South Asia was somewhat disappointing (only Pakistan and Nepal at the leaders’ level), South Asian countries, except India and Bhutan, joined various initiatives




What happens when two candidates in a constituency poll the same number of votes? According to Section 102 of the Representation of the People Act, if there is equality of votes and if one additional vote would entitle either of them to win, and if no decision has been made by the Returning Officer under the provisions of the Act, then the High Court decides by a lot. The candidate who wins the lottery wins the election.
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OLL CALL: LOTTERY Comment What is Lottery in elections? May 03, 2019 00:15 IST Updated: May 02, 2019 23:41 IST May 03, 2019 00:15 IST Updated: May 02, 2019 23:41 IST Share Article 0 PRINT A A A <span>What happens when two candidates in a constituency poll the same number of votes? According to Section 102 of the Representation of the People Act, if there is equality of votes and if one additional vote would entitle either of them to win, and if no decision has been made by the Returning Officer under the provisions of the Act, then the High Court decides by a lot. The candidate who wins the lottery wins the election. In 2017, for instance, in the election to ward number 220 of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Shiv Sena's Surendra Bagalkar and the BJP's Atul Shah got the same number of votes.




In its Paris Agreement commitments, India had pledged to reduce its intensity of GDP emissions by 33-35% over 2005 levels and at Copenhagen, by 20 to 25%. Are we in sync with what is needed from us
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transition to a low carbon economy is important. India is a large economy, market, second largest population and it can play an important role in being part of these positive spillover effects. <span>In its Paris Agreement commitments, India had pledged to reduce its intensity of GDP emissions by 33-35% over 2005 levels and at Copenhagen, by 20 to 25%. Are we in sync with what is needed from us? With the goal of keeping temperature rise to 2ºC or well below 2ºC or 1.5ºC, how does India’s Nationally Determined Contribution fit in? Prof. T. Jayaraman: The very form of your quest




The Assam government recently informed the Supreme Court that it has submitted a ₹900 crore proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs for sanctioning 1,000 Foreigners Tribunals to decide the cases of those to be excluded from the final NRC list. The State has a hundred Foreigners Tribunals at present.
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the Assamese, it has been pushing the campaign in a desperate bid to make them accept religion as the basis in place of language, culture and ethnicity for construction of an Assamese identity. <span>The Assam government recently informed the Supreme Court that it has submitted a ₹900 crore proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs for sanctioning 1,000 Foreigners Tribunals to decide the cases of those to be excluded from the final NRC list. The State has a hundred Foreigners Tribunals at present. A legal shield The BJP, however, needs the Bill to be first enacted as a legal shield for the large number of Bengali Hindus in Assam, in other northeastern States, and in West Bengal,




This year alone, eight paralysed children with wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) have been found in Pakistan.
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adicate polio. Due to recurrent threats to workers, the Pakistan government has now suspended the anti-polio drive. Cases of wild poliovirus type 1 This is the worst time to take this decision. <span>This year alone, eight paralysed children with wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) have been found in Pakistan. Environmental surveillance by testing sewage samples has shown 91 WPV1-positive samples, in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Punjab and Sindh. In the past week alone, 1




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tion activities, WPV1 will spread fast and the number of polio cases could increase and cause an outbreak. If Pakistan cannot eliminate polio, the global eradication programme is sure to stall. <span>When India eliminated WPV1 in January 2011, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), a public-private partnership led by national governments with five partners, did not ask if Pakistan would be able to follow suit; it si




The OPV is cheap and easy to give to children, but it has to be given to them again and again in pulse campaigns since its efficacy is poor. On the other hand, the IPV is highly efficacious and needs to be given just two-three times as part of routine immunisation.
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s a Western agenda with the sinister motive of reducing fertility. The GPEI has pinned all its hopes on the OPV and has excluded the alternate inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) to eradicate WPVs. <span>The OPV is cheap and easy to give to children, but it has to be given to them again and again in pulse campaigns since its efficacy is poor. On the other hand, the IPV is highly efficacious and needs to be given just two-three times as part of routine immunisation. Risk of polio outbreaks The OPV has another problem. If coverage declines (as is bound to happen in Pakistan), vaccine viruses will spread to children who are not vaccinated, back-mutat




The OPV has another problem. If coverage declines (as is bound to happen in Pakistan), vaccine viruses will spread to children who are not vaccinated, back-mutate, de-attenuate and become virulent. Such viruses are called circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV). They can cause polio outbreaks. Thus Pakistan will soon be at risk of polio outbreaks by both WPV1 and cVDPV.

It is to avoid the emergence of cVDPV that India strives to maintain high OPV coverage through routine immunisation, Mission Indradhanush and annual national pulse campaigns.

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pulse campaigns since its efficacy is poor. On the other hand, the IPV is highly efficacious and needs to be given just two-three times as part of routine immunisation. Risk of polio outbreaks <span>The OPV has another problem. If coverage declines (as is bound to happen in Pakistan), vaccine viruses will spread to children who are not vaccinated, back-mutate, de-attenuate and become virulent. Such viruses are called circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV). They can cause polio outbreaks. Thus Pakistan will soon be at risk of polio outbreaks by both WPV1 and cVDPV. It is to avoid the emergence of cVDPV that India strives to maintain high OPV coverage through routine immunisation, Mission Indradhanush and annual national pulse campaigns. In 2018, Papua New Guinea developed a cVDPV polio outbreak as OPV coverage fell to 60%. In 2017, as OPV coverage fell to 53%, Syria had an outbreak of cVDPV polio. There is yet another




he threat of American sanctions on Turkey following the latter’s decision to buy S-400 missile defence systems from Russia has also contributed greatly to tensions between the two countries. Therefore, it is unlikely that Turkey will bend completely to American will although it may do so partially to placate its NATO ally.
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the U.S. are currently rocky over U.S. support to the Syrian Kurdish militia, the YPG, that Ankara considers a terrorist organisation because of its close relations with the secessionist PKK. T<span>he threat of American sanctions on Turkey following the latter’s decision to buy S-400 missile defence systems from Russia has also contributed greatly to tensions between the two countries. Therefore, it is unlikely that Turkey will bend completely to American will although it may do so partially to placate its NATO ally. Indian capitulation? The American decision could not have come at a worse time for India with the country in the midst of a bitterly fought election campaign and policy makers focussed




The U.S. is India’s largest trading partner and a leading source of foreign investment. It has become increasingly important in the strategic arena as well because of the convergence of American and Indian interests regarding containing China in the Indo-Pacific region.
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onse is expected to be the most weak-kneed of the three. New Delhi is likely to comply with American demands, as India’s relations with the U.S. in the economic sphere are very important to it. <span>The U.S. is India’s largest trading partner and a leading source of foreign investment. It has become increasingly important in the strategic arena as well because of the convergence of American and Indian interests regarding containing China in the Indo-Pacific region. Moreover, the civil nuclear relationship with the U.S. is very important for India, as is American support for India’s bid to enter the Nuclear Suppliers Group. However, compliance with




India is heavily involved in building the Chabahar port in southern Iran. This port is expected to become a major access route for India not only to Iran but also to Afghanistan and Central Asia bypassing hostile Pakistani territory.
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with the U.S. is very important for India, as is American support for India’s bid to enter the Nuclear Suppliers Group. However, compliance with the American diktat will not come without costs. <span>India is heavily involved in building the Chabahar port in southern Iran. This port is expected to become a major access route for India not only to Iran but also to Afghanistan and Central Asia bypassing hostile Pakistani territory. Tehran is also important for New Delhi in the context of Afghanistan as both are unequivocally opposed to the Pakistan-supported Taliban returning to power even in a power-sharing arran




A uniform swing is the percentage swing in votes from one party to another. A uniform swing is viewed as a movement of the pendulum. Assuming a swing is uniform, then in theory, every seat up to the new point of the pendulum would change party. This definition applies to two-party systems and not to a multi-party system like India. Swings do take place in India in States and they can be reasonably uniform in a particular State, but not across the country.
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omment POLL CALL Comment What is Uniform Swing? April 30, 2019 00:15 IST Updated: April 29, 2019 23:42 IST April 30, 2019 00:15 IST Updated: April 29, 2019 23:42 IST Share Article 0 PRINT A A A <span>A uniform swing is the percentage swing in votes from one party to another. A uniform swing is viewed as a movement of the pendulum. Assuming a swing is uniform, then in theory, every seat up to the new point of the pendulum would change party. This definition applies to two-party systems and not to a multi-party system like India. Swings do take place in India in States and they can be reasonably uniform in a particular State, but not across the country. A letter from the Editor Dear reader, We have been keeping you up-to-date with information on the developments in India and the world that have a bearing on our health and wellbeing, ou




The aim of the National Nutrition Strategy of 2017 is to achieve a malnutrition-free India by 2022. The plan is to reduce stunting prevalence in children (0-3 years) by about three percentage points per year by 2022 from NFHS-4 levels, and achieve a one-third reduction in anaemia in children, adolescents and women of reproductive age.
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% of women were anaemic in 2015-16, this will have lasting effects on their future pregnancies and children. The situation further worsens when infants are fed inadequate diets. Ambitious goals <span>The aim of the National Nutrition Strategy of 2017 is to achieve a malnutrition-free India by 2022. The plan is to reduce stunting prevalence in children (0-3 years) by about three percentage points per year by 2022 from NFHS-4 levels, and achieve a one-third reduction in anaemia in children, adolescents and women of reproductive age. This is an ambitious goal, especially given that the decadal decline in stunting from 48% in 2006 to 38.4% in 2016 is only one percentage point a year. This promise calls for serious al




#has-images

The team at St. Andrews demonstrated a method called Raman spectroscopic analysis to examine the liquids in the bottle. Raman spectroscopy is a powerful and popular method to gain information at the molecular level, the method having a wide range of applications in biomedicine, cultural heritage, and defence.

In the context of whiskey, a laser beam is focused on the bottle. This generates Raman signals from the alcoholic spirit inside the bottle. However, glass is a highly Raman active substance, often masking regions of interest within the bottle. Unwanted signals originating from the glass bottle itself can significantly interfere with signals from the bottle's contents, reducing their effectiveness. This is a major obstacle with the method, researchers said.

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e testing for suspected fraud or adulteration of such pricey drinks, touchless sensing without opening the bottles would be preferable. This would preserve the original value of these products. <span>The team at St. Andrews demonstrated a method called Raman spectroscopic analysis to examine the liquids in the bottle. Raman spectroscopy is a powerful and popular method to gain information at the molecular level, the method having a wide range of applications in biomedicine, cultural heritage, and defence. In the context of whiskey, a laser beam is focused on the bottle. This generates Raman signals from the alcoholic spirit inside the bottle. However, glass is a highly Raman active substance, often masking regions of interest within the bottle. Unwanted signals originating from the glass bottle itself can significantly interfere with signals from the bottle's contents, reducing their effectiveness. This is a major obstacle with the method, researchers said. Researchers used laser to test the authenticity of the drinks | Photo Credit: University of St. Andrews The team used a cone shaped lens in the process to cope with this issue, excludin




They noted that when facing cross-winds, birds at inland sides preferred drifting, while those flying near the Atlantic coast oriented and tracked away from the coast. These behaviours suggest that birds migrate in an adaptive way to conserve energy.
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flight often drifted sideways when facing cross-winds or wind blowing across their direction of travel. These birds also actively assessed the degree to which they need to compensate for wind. <span>They noted that when facing cross-winds, birds at inland sides preferred drifting, while those flying near the Atlantic coast oriented and tracked away from the coast. These behaviours suggest that birds migrate in an adaptive way to conserve energy. A letter from the Editor Dear reader, We have been keeping you up-to-date with information on the developments in India and the world that have a bearing on our health and wellbeing, ou




“The early Pliocene period [5 million years ago] had atmospheric carbon dioxide levels which [we can relate to] to today - slightly above 400 ppm - and temperatures are 2 to 3 degrees Celsius higher than at the moment. Looking at our data, we can see that during this period a major glacier system along the East Antarctic coast showed signs of retreat and increased melt water output,”
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tinental-size ice sheet of Antarctica was established. They also looked at the mid-Miocene (about 14 million years ago) when the mean global temperature was 4 degrees Celsius warmer than today. <span>“The early Pliocene period [5 million years ago] had atmospheric carbon dioxide levels which [we can relate to] to today - slightly above 400 ppm - and temperatures are 2 to 3 degrees Celsius higher than at the moment. Looking at our data, we can see that during this period a major glacier system along the East Antarctic coast showed signs of retreat and increased melt water output,” explains the first and corresponding author Katharina Hochmuth in an email to The Hindu. She is now at the University of Leicester, U.K. To reconstruct the past, the team used seismic p




The team studied nine periods in the climatic and glacial histories of Antarctica, starting from 34 million years ago when the first major continental-size ice sheet of Antarctica was established. They also looked at the mid-Miocene (about 14 million years ago) when the mean global temperature was 4 degrees Celsius warmer than today.
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Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research from Germany in a release. He is one of the authors of the paper recently published in the journal Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. <span>The team studied nine periods in the climatic and glacial histories of Antarctica, starting from 34 million years ago when the first major continental-size ice sheet of Antarctica was established. They also looked at the mid-Miocene (about 14 million years ago) when the mean global temperature was 4 degrees Celsius warmer than today. “The early Pliocene period [5 million years ago] had atmospheric carbon dioxide levels which [we can relate to] to today - slightly above 400 ppm - and temperatures are 2 to 3 degrees C




French astronaut Thomas Pesquet for Mission Alpha next year,
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Indians to space by 2022 Space agencies of India and France are in an advanced stage of discussions for providing necessary equipment to ‘Gaganyaan’ astronauts, similar to the one to be used by <span>French astronaut Thomas Pesquet for Mission Alpha next year, officials said. A senior official of the National Centre for Space Studies (CNES), the space agency of France, said work on the equipment for Mission Alpha is on. Also read | New data r




Gaganyaan mission that aims to send three Indians to space by 2022.
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aborating on the details of the equipment. India and France share a robust collaboration in the area of space. Space agencies of the two countries are also collaborating on nearly ₹10,000 crore <span>Gaganyaan mission that aims to send three Indians to space by 2022. Last year, flight surgeon Brigitte Godard, then with the CNES, was in India to train physicians and engineers. France has a well-established mechanism for space medicine. It also has th




France has a well-established mechanism for space medicine. It also has the MEDES (French Institute of Space Medicine and Physiology) space clinic, a subsidiary of CNES, where space surgeons undergo training.

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₹10,000 crore Gaganyaan mission that aims to send three Indians to space by 2022. Last year, flight surgeon Brigitte Godard, then with the CNES, was in India to train physicians and engineers. <span>France has a well-established mechanism for space medicine. It also has the MEDES (French Institute of Space Medicine and Physiology) space clinic, a subsidiary of CNES, where space surgeons undergo training. “The Indian space surgeons will also go to France next year once the coronavirus situation eases,” an ISRO official said. He also did not comment on specific collaboration for supply of




“Even today, the CSIR gets royalty on the indelible ink it had developed [which is used in elections and in use since the first general election]. All labs have been asked to work at their best and excel. And that will help us not only meet the Dehradun targets but exceed them.
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me ‘self-financing’ in two years. Those targets prompted questions within CSIR scientists about the viability of long-term research and having to opt for short-term revenue generation projects. <span>“Even today, the CSIR gets royalty on the indelible ink it had developed [which is used in elections and in use since the first general election]. All labs have been asked to work at their best and excel. And that will help us not only meet the Dehradun targets but exceed them. The proportion of revenues have from industrial projects have been steadily increasing,” Shekhar Mande, Director General of CSIR, said. A letter from the Editor Dear reader, We have bee




CSIR labs vary widely in earnings: RTI
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CSIR labs vary widely in earnings: RTI Share On 2 News National International States Cities Coronavirus | India likely had 6.4 million infections in May: ICMR serosurvey News National National <span>CSIR labs vary widely in earnings: RTI Jacob Koshy NEW DELHI, September 02, 2020 19:24 IST Updated: September 03, 2020 22:17 IST Jacob Koshy NEW DELHI, September 02, 2020 19:24 IST Updated: September 03, 2020 22:17 IST Share




Previous studies have shown that this demise of the Green Sahara also caused the collapse of the Akkadian Empire of Mesopotamia and the de-urbanisation of the Indus Valley Civilization.
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Johnson in a release. She is an associate professor of Earth system science at the University of California and one of the corresponding authors of the paper published in Nature Communications. <span>Previous studies have shown that this demise of the Green Sahara also caused the collapse of the Akkadian Empire of Mesopotamia and the de-urbanisation of the Indus Valley Civilization. This mega-drought period also brought about many lifestyle changes in the mainland Southeast Asian countries of Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. The first appearance of cu




The data suggested that during this period the Sahara started losing its vegetation. The reduced plant growth led to increased airborne dust which cooled the Indian Ocean, shifted the atmospheric circulation patterns and caused a condition similar to today’s El Niño events.

This ultimately led to a large reduction in monsoon moisture across Southeast Asia that lasted more than 1,000 years

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les The team collected stalagmite samples from the caves in Laos and examined the oxygen, carbon isotopes and trace metals. They also conducted different modelling and paleoclimate experiments. <span>The data suggested that during this period the Sahara started losing its vegetation. The reduced plant growth led to increased airborne dust which cooled the Indian Ocean, shifted the atmospheric circulation patterns and caused a condition similar to today’s El Niño events. This ultimately led to a large reduction in monsoon moisture across Southeast Asia that lasted more than 1,000 years, says Kathleen Johnson in a release. She is an associate professor of Earth system science at the University of California and one of the corresponding authors of the paper published in




About 4,000 to 5,000 years ago, a severe drought crippled countries of Southeast Asia forcing a shift in human settlement patterns of the area.
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icle 2 PRINT A A A Paleolithic study: Kathleen Johnson carries her caving gear across a river, exiting a cave in Laos. Mineral deposits of caves in Vietnam, point to the end of the Green Sahara <span>About 4,000 to 5,000 years ago, a severe drought crippled countries of Southeast Asia forcing a shift in human settlement patterns of the area. Researchers have now told the story behind this mega-drought. By studying the mineral deposits of caves in Vietnam they point to a connection between the end of the Green Sahara and thi




Researchers at RMIT University have developed electronic skin that can sense pain just like real skin. It can also sense and react to changes in temperature and pressure.
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ns with the same lighting speed that nerve signals travel to the brain. (Subscribe to our Today's Cache newsletter for a quick snapshot of top 5 tech stories. Click here to subscribe for free.) <span>Researchers at RMIT University have developed electronic skin that can sense pain just like real skin. It can also sense and react to changes in temperature and pressure. “Our artificial skin reacts instantly when pressure, heat or cold reach a painful threshold,” Madhu Bhaskaran, Professor at RMIT University, said. “It’s a critical step forward in the f




The researchers say that the device is capable of mimicking body’s quick response to things, and can react to painful sensations with the same lighting speed that nerve signals travel to the brain.

“It means our artificial skin knows the difference between gently touching a pin with your finger or accidentally stabbing yourself with it – a critical distinction that has never been achieved before electronically,” Rahman added.

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temperature and pain, and deliver the right electronic response,” Md Ataur Rahman, researcher at RMIT University, said. Also Read A contactless robotic platform to monitor patient's vital signs <span>The researchers say that the device is capable of mimicking body’s quick response to things, and can react to painful sensations with the same lighting speed that nerve signals travel to the brain. “It means our artificial skin knows the difference between gently touching a pin with your finger or accidentally stabbing yourself with it – a critical distinction that has never been achieved before electronically,” Rahman added. The advancements made by the devices may lead to real-world applications in biomedical technologies, including improving prosthetics, non-invasive alternatives to skin grafts, and smart




The Starlink satellites operate in low Earth orbit at 550 km. Each satellite weighs about 260kg, features a single solar array, and is equipped with ion thruster. The satellites use the ion thrusters to raise to orbit, manoeuvre in space, and deorbit at the end of their life.
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es on SpaceX to build satellite broadband service Once these space lasers are fully deployed, Starlink will be one of the fastest options available to transfer data around the world, she added. <span>The Starlink satellites operate in low Earth orbit at 550 km. Each satellite weighs about 260kg, features a single solar array, and is equipped with ion thruster. The satellites use the ion thrusters to raise to orbit, manoeuvre in space, and deorbit at the end of their life. Starlink public beta will be rolled out later this year, and people can sign up for it via Starlink website, Tice said. A letter from the Editor Dear reader, We have been keeping you up




SpaceX says Starlink internet private beta testing speeds are over 100 Mbps
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SpaceX says Starlink internet private beta testing speeds are over 100 Mbps Share On 0 Sci-Tech Science Technology Health Agriculture Environment Gadgets Internet Sci-Tech Technology Technology <span>SpaceX says Starlink internet private beta testing speeds are over 100 Mbps Ishan Patra September 07, 2020 14:42 IST Updated: September 07, 2020 14:55 IST Ishan Patra September 07, 2020 14:42 IST Updated: September 07, 2020 14:55 IST SpaceX says Starlink can pr




The Chandrayaan-1 data indicate that the moon’s poles are home to water, this is what the scientists are trying to decipher, the statement added.

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An American commercial cargo spacecraft bound for the International Space Station has been named after fallen NASA astronaut Kalpana Chawla, the first India-born woman to enter space, for her key contributions to human spaceflight
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PRINT A A A File photo of Kalpana Chawla. | Photo Credit: AP/NASA “Chawla was selected in honour of her prominent place in history as the first woman of Indian descent to go to space,” it said. <span>An American commercial cargo spacecraft bound for the International Space Station has been named after fallen NASA astronaut Kalpana Chawla, the first India-born woman to enter space, for her key contributions to human spaceflight. Northrop Grumman, an American global aerospace and defence technology company, announced that its next Cygnus capsule will be named the “S.S. Kalpana Chawla”, in memory of the mission




Northrop Grumman is proud to name the NG-14 Cygnus spacecraft after former astronaut Kalpana Chawla
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Kalpana Chawla, who made history at @NASA as the first female astronaut of Indian descent. Her contributions to human spaceflight have had a lasting impact,” the company tweeted on Wednesday. “<span>Northrop Grumman is proud to name the NG-14 Cygnus spacecraft after former astronaut Kalpana Chawla. It is the company’s tradition to name each Cygnus after an individual who has played a pivotal role in human spaceflight,” the company said on its website. “Chawla was selected in hono




A breezy 110 km drive to the northeast of Kota in Rajasthan takes you to a huge impact crater that has kept researchers busy for years. Known as the Ramgarh structure, it is India’s third confirmed impact structure.
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aters of such impacts could be sources of hydrocarbon and mineral deposits Share Article 0 PRINT A A A The resultant craters of such impacts could be sources of hydrocarbon and mineral deposits <span>A breezy 110 km drive to the northeast of Kota in Rajasthan takes you to a huge impact crater that has kept researchers busy for years. Known as the Ramgarh structure, it is India’s third confirmed impact structure. Two recent papers have now yielded valuable information about the impactor and the condition of the region when it struck. The international team collected rocks and impactite (rock cre




“The Chicxulub crater of Mexico which is about 170 km in diameter wiped out nearly 90% of life on earth. The Ramgarh structure could have had an effect on the flora and fauna of western Indian Subcontinent.
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e of the impact,” explains Dr. Amar Agarwal from the Department of Earth Sciences at Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and one of the authors of the second paper. Why study impact craters? <span>“The Chicxulub crater of Mexico which is about 170 km in diameter wiped out nearly 90% of life on earth. The Ramgarh structure could have had an effect on the flora and fauna of western Indian Subcontinent. This needs further study,” explains Dr. Agarwal. He adds that these craters could be sources of hydrocarbon and mineral deposits. The Vredefort crater of South Africa is rich in gold an




“Also, the structure is roughly rectangular, unlike the simple, bowl shaped Lonar crater of Maharashtra. This structural pattern is roughly consistent with the oblique impact,” he adds.
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ijesh Ray from the Planetary Sciences Division of Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad. He is the corresponding author of the paper recently published in the Journal of Earth System Science. <span>“Also, the structure is roughly rectangular, unlike the simple, bowl shaped Lonar crater of Maharashtra. This structural pattern is roughly consistent with the oblique impact,” he adds. Another study published in Meteoritics & Planetary Science reveals that the impact structure has an approximately 10 km diameter. The new findings aided by remote sensing and digita




“Also, the structure is roughly rectangular, unlike the simple, bowl shaped Lonar crater of Maharashtra. This structural pattern is roughly consistent with the oblique impact,” he adds.

Another study published in Meteoritics & Planetary Science reveals that the impact structure has an approximately 10 km diameter. The new findings aided by remote sensing and digital imagery shows the diameter to be much higher than the previously noted diameter of about 2.5 km.

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ijesh Ray from the Planetary Sciences Division of Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad. He is the corresponding author of the paper recently published in the Journal of Earth System Science. <span>“Also, the structure is roughly rectangular, unlike the simple, bowl shaped Lonar crater of Maharashtra. This structural pattern is roughly consistent with the oblique impact,” he adds. Another study published in Meteoritics & Planetary Science reveals that the impact structure has an approximately 10 km diameter. The new findings aided by remote sensing and digital imagery shows the diameter to be much higher than the previously noted diameter of about 2.5 km. This paper also notes that the asteroid may have hit into a shallow water environment. “We saw sediment deformation patterns and also gastropods embedded in the sedimentary rock. We kno




Low-cost device for deep vein thrombosis
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Expert Series on COVID-19 - Download PDF Low-cost device for deep vein thrombosis Share On 0 Sci-Tech Science Technology Health Agriculture Environment Gadgets Internet Sci-Tech Science Science <span>Low-cost device for deep vein thrombosis Shubashree Desikan September 12, 2020 19:53 IST Updated: September 12, 2020 19:56 IST Shubashree Desikan September 12, 2020 19:53 IST Updated: September 12, 2020 19:56 IST It replicates




The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) performed a major technological feat on September 7 when it flew a cruise vehicle at a hypersonic speed of Mach six for 20 seconds. The DRDO called the cruise vehicle Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV). The centrepiece of the HSTDV was the indigenously developed air-breathing scramjet engine, which formed the HSTDV’s propulsion system. If the mission’s aim was to prove this air-breathing scramjet engine in flight, it was achieved.
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A A Major feat: The cruise vehicle was flown at a hypersonic speed of Mach six for 20 seconds. | Photo Credit: PTI This indigenous engine is the centrepiece of the cruise vehicle flown by DRDO <span>The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) performed a major technological feat on September 7 when it flew a cruise vehicle at a hypersonic speed of Mach six for 20 seconds. The DRDO called the cruise vehicle Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV). The centrepiece of the HSTDV was the indigenously developed air-breathing scramjet engine, which formed the HSTDV’s propulsion system. If the mission’s aim was to prove this air-breathing scramjet engine in flight, it was achieved. The critical technologies developed for the HSTDV mission were the scramjet engine and its ignition, sustaining the ignition, ethylene fuel, generation of maximum energy from the engine




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The team at St. Andrews demonstrated a method called Raman spectroscopic analysis to examine the liquids in the bottle. Raman spectroscopy is a powerful and popular method to gain information at the molecular level, the method having a wide range of applications in biomedicine, cultural heritage, and defence.

In the context of whiskey, a laser beam is focused on the bottle. This generates Raman signals from the alcoholic spirit inside the bottle. However, glass is a highly Raman active substance, often masking regions of interest within the bottle. Unwanted signals originating from the glass bottle itself can significantly interfere with signals from the bottle's contents, reducing their effectiveness. This is a major obstacle with the method, researchers said.

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e testing for suspected fraud or adulteration of such pricey drinks, touchless sensing without opening the bottles would be preferable. This would preserve the original value of these products. <span>The team at St. Andrews demonstrated a method called Raman spectroscopic analysis to examine the liquids in the bottle. Raman spectroscopy is a powerful and popular method to gain information at the molecular level, the method having a wide range of applications in biomedicine, cultural heritage, and defence. In the context of whiskey, a laser beam is focused on the bottle. This generates Raman signals from the alcoholic spirit inside the bottle. However, glass is a highly Raman active substance, often masking regions of interest within the bottle. Unwanted signals originating from the glass bottle itself can significantly interfere with signals from the bottle's contents, reducing their effectiveness. This is a major obstacle with the method, researchers said. Researchers used laser to test the authenticity of the drinks | Photo Credit: University of St. Andrews The team used a cone shaped lens in the process to cope with this issue, excludin




Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's neuroscience startup Neuralink on Friday unveiled a pig named Gertrude that has had a coin-sized computer chip in its brain for two months, showing off an early step toward the goal of curing human diseases with the same type of implant.

Co-founded by Tesla Inc and SpaceX CEO Musk in 2016, San Francisco Bay Area-based Neuralink aims to implant wireless brain-computer interfaces that include thousands of electrodes in the most complex human organ to help cure neurological conditions like Alzheimer's, dementia and spinal cord injuries and ultimately fuse humankind with artificial intelligence.

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le's brain. | Photo Credit: AP Neuroscientists unaffiliated with the company said the presentation indicated that Neuralink had made great strides but cautioned that longer studies were needed. <span>Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's neuroscience startup Neuralink on Friday unveiled a pig named Gertrude that has had a coin-sized computer chip in its brain for two months, showing off an early step toward the goal of curing human diseases with the same type of implant. Co-founded by Tesla Inc and SpaceX CEO Musk in 2016, San Francisco Bay Area-based Neuralink aims to implant wireless brain-computer interfaces that include thousands of electrodes in the most complex human organ to help cure neurological conditions like Alzheimer's, dementia and spinal cord injuries and ultimately fuse humankind with artificial intelligence. “An implantable device can actually solve these problems,” Mr. Musk said on a webcast on Friday, mentioning ailments such as memory loss, hearing loss, depression and insomnia. Mr. Musk




Tamil Nadu has emerged as the country’s top investment destination in the first quarter of this financial year, even as overall fresh investment announcements in India slumped to the lowest in five years amidst a period marred by the extended pandemic-induced lockdown.
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RINT A A A Photograph used for representational purposes only | Photo Credit: istock But overall fresh investment announcements in India slumped to the lowest in five years, says Projects Today <span>Tamil Nadu has emerged as the country’s top investment destination in the first quarter of this financial year, even as overall fresh investment announcements in India slumped to the lowest in five years amidst a period marred by the extended pandemic-induced lockdown. The southern State accounted for 18.63% of the ₹97,859 crore of investments envisaged to execute 1,241 projects in the country in the first quarter, reckoned Projects Today, an independ